Blog
The Benefits of a Summer Job
On the last day of school, you can hear a collective cheer from students across the country. Two months of no homework, tests, or projects has finally arrived. For the high school student, a productive way to spend your time over the summer may be working at a job or...
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Understanding Your ACT Score Report
The ACT score report provides detailed information to help you better understand your strengths and weaknesses in terms of ACT content. It’s worth taking the time to review your score report in detail before deciding if you should retake the ACT because your scores...
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Making the Most of Hybrid Learning
Seven months into the 2020-2021 school year, hybrid learning is now available for public school students across Virginia. Many students are excited about this opportunity to learn in the classroom, if only two days a week. Others, unsure of how the hybrid learning...
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Back to School COVID-Style
For many middle and high school students, these next few weeks mark the start of in-person instruction. After almost a year of virtual school, going "back" to the classroom just might be the most exciting time of the year. But before the excitement of socialization...
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Changes to the SAT
College Board has announced the elimination of the optional essay section on the SAT and all SAT II Subject Tests in an effort to reduce and simplify academic demands on students. Subject tests will no longer be offered to U.S. students and the essay section will not...
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Everything You Need to Know About the SAT/ACT Essay
Update: This article was written in October 2020. The SAT essay will not be offered after June 2021 and the SAT essay score will not be an admissions requirement at that time. For details, read our blog on Changes to the SAT. Prepping for the SAT or ACT is not usually...
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Staying Connected During COVID
The year 2020 has brought many changes for high school students, from virtual learning to social distancing. While virtual learning has been successful for some and challenging for others, social distancing has been a struggle for almost all high schoolers. Months of...
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The 123s of College Admissions During COVID
Tri-Ed Tutoring's Founder and Director Amanda Paldao interviewed Victoria Turner Turco, owner of Turner Educational Advising and co-creator of Applying to College 123, to discuss changes in this year's college admissions process during COVID-19. Q: With so many test...
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Top Three Concerns with Educational Testing
She's just lazy. He's not motivated. School is not her thing. These labels and perceptions can not only hurt, they can be 100% inaccurate. Students with undiagnosed learning disabilities may appear to be slacking off when their brains are simply unable to process...
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How to Request Accommodations for the SAT or ACT
You might be surprised at the number of accommodations available for standardized test takers. The long list includes familiar accommodations for students with learning disabilities, such as extended time and added breaks, as well as accommodations for students with...
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Back to School: Making the Most of Virtual Learning
Update: Current return to school schedules can be found on the Fairfax County Public Schools website, Prince William County Public Schools website, Loudoun County Public Schools website, and Arlington County Public Schools website. The start of this school year will...
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SAT Prep for High School Freshmen and Sophomores
Prepping for the SAT or ACT two to three months before the test date can feel a little overwhelming. That's why parents ask us all the time how their students can get a jumpstart on test prep freshman and sophomore years of high school. There are certainly ways to...
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Planning for Success: Setting Career Goals, Part 4
The difference between a senior in high school considering a major for the first time and a middle school student setting career goals is the process in which they make the decision. If you have not thought much about your future before heading off to college, you...
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It’s Time to Apply for College… is it Smart to Apply Early?
Regular admissions, rolling admissions, early decision, early action… all of these terms refer to college application deadlines. Unfamiliar with the college lingo? Take a few moments to read our previous blog post and learn all about each deadline option. Then, read...
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Community Service During COVID-19
Community service is noticeably different now with many organizations and non-profits closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn't mean you can't still serve the community. It just requires a little time and creativity. Beyond the desire to serve others...
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Plan A, B, and C: Comparing and Ranking Career Choices, Part 3
On average, Americans change jobs 12 times during their lifetimes and work less than five years in one job.* Since you will most likely work in more than one field throughout your career, it's important to prepare for more than one job. When creating a career plan...
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Why Take the SAT in a Test Optional World?
Update: This post was originally written in May 2020. Throughout the spring and fall of 2020, there were many SAT and ACT cancellations. As a result, nearly all colleges adopted a test optional policy for students applying for Fall 2021 admissions. Many schools...
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When Should I Prepare for and Take the SAT or ACT? Part II
In the last blog, we talked about questions to consider when planning your SAT and ACT test dates and preparation for those tests during junior and senior year. You can check out those questions here. Now that you know what to consider, it's time to put that...
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When Should I Prepare For and Take the SAT or ACT? Part I
Many students and parents ask when the SAT or ACT test should be taken and when test prep should start. There are many factors to consider and it can vary based on the student’s starting scores and goal score. Below are some things to consider. Take a practice test...
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Changes to College Admissions After COVID-19
Never in our lifetime have schools closed on a global level because of a viral pandemic. Students have experienced many unexpected changes this year, from schools closing three months early to the administration of AP exams at home instead of in the classroom and the...
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